Ski glove



H. P. HENRY Aug. 7, 1951 SKI GLOVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 16, 1948 LVVENTOR. my

awk 475150272 J5 H. P. HENRY Aug. 7, 1951 SKI GLOVE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 16, 1948 mPatented ug. 7, 195i SKI GLOVE Howarth Padgett Henry, Dayton, Ohio Application November 16, 1948, Serial No. 60,362

1 Claim.

This invention relates to gloves of the type used in skiing and which are worn by skiers when ascending the ski run by means of a tow line or the like. More particularly, this invention relates to improvements in ski gloves whereby their life is prolonged while at the same time the hands of the wearer are fully protected against rope burns, abrasion, and other injuries.

Many ski resorts have installed systems of one form or another designed to assist the skier in ascending to the top oi the ski run. One widely used ski tow device comprises a continuously running rope, usually of manilla hemp, which the skier grasps to assist in pulling himself up to the slope, thereby reducing both the time and the amount of effort which would otherwise be required. The manilla rope is usually about one inch in diameter and is power driven at speeds up to as much as 2O miles per hour. In general, the ski tow is arranged so that a comparatively level portion of ground precedes the steeper climbing portion.

To use the rope as a means of facilitating ascent of the hill, the'skier grasps the rope while on the level part of the ski tow run and accelerates his body to the speedI of the running rope before reaching the steeper portion. Once the skier has attained full speed, there is usually little slippage between the rope and the glove surfaces. However, during the process of accelerating to this speed, the rope slides through the hands of the skier and, because of the high speed of the rope and the relevant thinness of the leather from which gloves are ordinarily manfactured, it is not uncommon for the skier to suffer rope burns. Moreover, the rope is usually wet from snow and ice so that the gloves become wet and slippery. This decreases to some extent the frictional forces between the glove surface and the rope, but in doing so prolongs the time it takes for the skier to reach full speed. Because of this greater period of time and the fact that the strength of the glove against resistance to wear decreases when wet, the net result is to accelerate destruction of the surface of the glove pressing on the rope. Since as many as twenty to thirty ascents may be made in a single hour, the expensive ski gloves wear through very rapidly.

Thus the present tow rope system whereby the skier is aided in his ascent of the hill is unsatisfactory for the reason that it ruins expensive ski gloves and causes injuries to the hands. In addition, the palm of the glove becomes wet from contact with the Wet rope. so that the hands are chilled. Moreover, it is not feasible to protect the hands by sewing padding or the like onto the palm of the glove, since this would make the glove too bulky for adept handling of the ski poles during the ski run.

The principal object of my invention, therefore, is 'to provide a novel ski glove which is capable of withstanding the abrasive forces of a ruiming rope or cable, which prevents the palm of the glove from getting wet, and which protects the hand of the skier against rope burns and abrasione. In one preferred form, my invention comprises combining a glove portion with a gauntlet cf novel construction whereby the gauntlet may be folded back over the glove portion, in which position it acts as an abrasion-resisting medium when the rope is grasped.

In order that my invention may be more fully disclosed, reference is had to the accompanying drawings which illustrate several forms of ski gloves embodying the foregoing and such other principles, advantages or capabilities as may be pointed out as this description proceeds, or as are inherent in the present invention. For purposes of clarity in exposition, the following description is explicit and the accompanying drawings are detailed, but it is distinctly to be understood that said exposition is illustrative only and that my invention is not restricted to the particular details recited in the specication or shown in the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of the palm side of a ski glove embodying the present invention, as it appears when used as a conventional glove;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the reverse or back side of the glove of Figure l, a portion of the gauntlet being broken away to illustrate the manner in which the gauntlet is constructed;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the glove of Figure l showing the appearance of said glove when the gauntlet is turned down over the palm;

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the glove as shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view, taken partly in section, showing the appearance of the several parts comprising my novel glove when a rope or cable is grasped;

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the palm side of another glove embodying my invention;

Figure 7 illustrates the appearance of the glove of Figure 6 when adapted to grasp a rope or cable;

Figure 8 is an elevational view of the palm side of a glove comprising a th ird embodiment of my invention;

Figure 9 is a side elevational View of the glove shown in Figure 8;

Figure 10 shows the appearance of the back or rear side of the glove of Figure 8; and

Figure 11 is a side elevational View showing the appearance of the glove of Figures 8-10 when adapted tobefused for grasping a rope or cable.

Like numerals designate like parts in the drawings and in the description of my invention which follows.

Turning now to the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 showY one embodiment of my invention as including a hand covering portion 20 of more or less conventional design, and a gauntlet 2| of nov-el construction. The gauntlet 2| includes in the back portion thereof a zipper 22 and cooperating slide fastener 23, which provide means for opening the gauntlet 2| to permit the same to be .turned down over the hand covering portion 2U in the manner shown in Figures 3 and 4. A plur-ality of strips 24 are sewn or otherwise fastened to that portion of the inner surface of the gauntl-et 2| which is on the palm side of the glove. Accordingly, when the gauntlet 2i is turned down over the hand covering portion 20, the strips 24 on the outside of the glove are positioned directly Y over the palm or grasping portion of the hand covering portion 2G.

Figure 5 shows the manner in which my invention gives protection to the hand and the hand covering portion 2! when the manilla rope or cable 2'1 is grasped. Since the zipper 22 is in the back portion of the gauntlet 2|, it does not interfere in any way with the grasping of the rope 27. At all times, the strips 24, placed over the palm of the hand covering portion 2U, contact the rope 2l, which is continuously running at speeds as high as 20 miles per hour. All abrasion and wear upon the glove caused by the frictional engagement of the rope 27 is therefore taken by the strips 24, which may be easily and inexpensively replaced when worn out.

Advantageously, the combination of the strips 24, the gauntlet 2| and the air space intervening between the gauntlet 2| and the hand covering portion 20 act to insulate the hand of the skier against rope burns. Moreover, the moisture on the rope 2'! due to ice and snow, is usually absorbed entirely by the strips 26. However, even if the moisture is excessive, the excess is taken up by the gauntlet 2| rather than the hand covering portion 2G. This is preferable to getting the palm of the hand covering portion 20 wet, Vsince the latter should be dry and supple from the standpoint of both comfort to the wearer, and adept handling of the ski poles.

Whilethe abrasion resistant means secured to the gauntlet 2| is shown to be in the form of a plurality of strips 24, other arrangements and configurations will be apparent to those skilled in the art. In practice, the strips may be fabricated from any suitable material which pro'- vides a good wearing surface for the purposes indicated above. Leather and heavy canvas ducking or webbing may be cited as exemplary materials. Again, the zipper 22 and slide fastener 23 are only illustrations of one form of fastening means which may be `used to secure the gauntlet 2| about the wrist of the wearer. Other suitable fastening means include buttons, snap buttons, lacing, and clips.

While it is by no means essential, I prefer to .invention set forth above.

dimension the ski glove such that the gauntlet 2| extending rearwise from the elastic band 25 and strap 26 is somewhat shorter than the length of the hand covering portion 20. In this way, the gauntlet proportions are such that it provides ample protection for the hand of the skier, yet the more or less conventional ski glove proportions are retained.

Figures 6 and 7 show a Second ski glove incorporating the teaching of the present inventoin. In this embodiment, however, the gauntlet portion 28 is made sufficiently divergent to permit it to be peeled down over the hand covering portion 29, in the manner shown in Figure 7.V

Instead of using a plurality of strips, as in the embodiment of Figures 1-5, a singleV reinforcing piece of leather or like material 30 is sewn or otherwise fastened to the interior surface of the gauntlet 28 on the palm side of the ski glove. Advantageously, the ski glove of Figures 6 and 7 is capable of being used in the same manner as that of Figures 1-5. It has the added advantage, however, of being less expensive to manufacture, due to the lesser number of parts required.

Figures 8-11 show a third embodiment of my invention as including a conventional mitten 3| to which a sheath 32 is sewn. IThe sheath 3| is split along its back portion and is secured to the wrist of the wearer by means vof a snap button 33 which fastens together the two halves of the strap 3. Strips 35 of abrasion-resisting material, such asr leather, ducking or the like, are sewn or otherwise fastened to the inner surface of the sheath 32 on the palm side of the mitten 3 I, so that upon turning the sheath 32 down upon the mitten 3| in the manner shown in Figure 11, said strips 35 face outwardly. Advantageously, the strap 34 and the cooperating snap button 33 provide means for holding the sheath 32 in the position shown in Figure 1l while the skier uses my novel glove to assist him in ascending to the top of the ski-run.

From a consideration of the foregoing, it is .apparent that each of the various embodiments shown in the drawings fulfills the objects of my Thus, having fully described and illustratedmy invention, and indicated its utility, I claim:

A ski glove comprising a hand covering portion, a gauntlet extending from said hand covering portion, a plurality of fwear resistant lleather strips sewn to the interior surface of said gauntlet and vpositioned crosswise thereof on the palm side of saidglove, and fastening means for the back side of said gauntlet whereby the same may be opened for turning down over said hand` covering portion.

VHOVVAR'IH PADGETT HENRY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS- Number Name Date 792,662 Liebenstein June 20, 1985 1,445,094 Lindfeldt Feb. 131923 1,786,227 Bruggeman Dec. 23, 1930 2,128,796 Bohm-Myro Aug. 30, 1938 2,321,091 Kertesz et al June 8, 194.3

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 665,165 France Apr. 3o, 1929 139,225 AAustria Oct. 25, 1931iA 

